THE ART OF INTERVIEWING

There are three ways to gather information for your story-research, observation and interviewing. Of these, interviewing is clearly the most important. It can be done in person, over the phone, and now even by-mail. It can be extensive or just a few questions. In whatever form, it is the key to the stories you write. Your ability to talk to people & sources is the difference between being a mediocre reporter and a good one.

PRINCIPLES BEHIND CONDUCTING A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

Interviews are one of the most important techniques used by reporters to get theinformation they want. The principles, which must be kept in mind for recordingeffective interviews or sound bites, are as follows.

  1. The reporter must do his research thoroughly before the interview. Thisresearch must be about the topic on which the questions are meant to beasked. If the interviewee is a prominent person, then the reporter must findout as much as possible about him or her. The reporter may consult various secondary sources such as books, magazines, newspapers, and websites and speak to people who can provide relevant information.
  2. Ideally, the reporter should prepare a list of questions. This list is known as a questionnaire. The quality of the interview depends on the quality of the questions asked, and therefore it is wise to spend some time planning intelligent questions that go to the heart of the matter. The questions must be so designed that the reporter does not ask leading questions Also, the questions should be  such that they require complete answers, not just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers.
  3. It goes without saying that basic manners such as dressing neatly, arriving on time, and being courteous and confident are necessary. Be professional at all times. Being professional does not mean being distant or formal, as some 25 people believe, it simply means that the work at hand should be the focus and that it should get done efficiently.
  4. Before the interview, establish a rapport with the interviewee through what is called pre-chat. This is conversation before recording starts in order to make the other person feel comfortable. If necessary, tell the interviewee about the questions you wish to ask, but don’t discuss them in detail at this point.
  5. During the interview, remember that the interview is meant to be a focused conversation. Try to make the interviewee so comfortable that he or she speaks freely. In the case of a public figure that must be held accountable, cross-question him or her whenever required politely but firmly.
  6. During the recording of sound bites, request your interviewee to answer in complete sentences. Incomplete answers cannot be used as sound bites.
  7. Keep a strict watch on time constraints.
  8. If an answer leads on to another question, and if time permits, do ask it.
  9. After the interview is formally over, continue the conversation for a few minutes and try to make the atmosphere more relaxed. The interviewee must go away feeling he or she has engaged in a meaningful conversation.

[This article is published by Media Center-IMAC in interest of student awareness and career guidance. Media Center-IMAC specializes in Post-Graduate/Under-Graduate diploma courses in Media SZtudies and Mass Communication & TV journalism. With practical oriented and industry specific course, Media Center- IMAC is a prominent institution in Delhi.

Our alumni have proven themselves in the media world and are currently working at prestigious media organizations and top news channels. Besides full time diploma courses, Media Center-IMAC also offers specialized certificate courses in TV reporting, Digital marketing, video editing, radio jockeying, photography and many more.

For more info, visit: http://www.mediacenterimac.com/

Or email at: mediacenterimac@gmail.com

Or call at: 011 43489010, 8076807939.]

 

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